Adjustable curtain rod holder



Feb. 8, 1944- J. B. HOLTZCLAW ADJUSTABLE CURTAIN ROD HOLDER Filed July 31, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. JOHN B. HOLTZCLAW ATTORNEK Feb. 8, 1944.

J. B. HoLTzcLA w 2,341,217

ADJUSTABLE CURTAIN ROD HOLDER Filed July 31, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. JOHN B. HOL 7' Z CLAW wi w A TTORNEK Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES 531'- AT ENT FF ICE amns'rmenu CURTAIN non HOLDER John B; Holt-mat, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 31, 1941, sevia1: No-. 4o4,s2e

My invention relates generally to holders for curtain rods and more particularly to holders which are adjustable to compensate for variations in curtain lengths.

In the decoration of interiors where great attention is given to all details, it has long been a problem to hang curtains so that they extend the proper distance. While it might seem that it would be a simple matter to measure the win dew and cut the material to the proper length, this cannot be done in-practiceif evenly-hanging curtains are to be had. The reason for this difiilculty arises from the fact that the weight of the material will cause the curtain to stretch, and the amount of stretching will be dependent, to a certain degree, upon the Weave of the material. Thus, if six drapery materials of varying textures and qualities are cut to exactly the same measurement and hung from the same fixed rod, the result will be curtains having six diiferent lengths. In addition, when curtains are cleaned, they will be shrunk or stretched varying amounts, and hence again variations in length will arise. In a similar manner, after curtains have been properly hung, they are likely to sag or stretch from their own weight, and hence a curtain which at one time was the proper length, may need shortening after it has, been hanging for a month or so.

Any attempt to compensate for thesevaria- I tions by moving the curtain rod holder requires new holes in the woodwork to hold the screws supporting the brackets; and aside from-the cost of the labor involved, the damage to the woodwork is considerable. The alternative to removing and resetting the brackets has meant the taking down of the curtains, changing their length, and then rehanging them, entailing a great amount of extra labor and expense.

It is, therefore, the major object of my invention to provide a curtain rod holder which may be adjusted to compensate for variations in lengths of curtains without removing the curtains or relocating the brackets orcurtain rod holder.

It is another objectofwmy invention to provide such a holder which will support a single rod or aplurality of rods, and which maybe adjusted without the use of special tools orequipment.

It is'a further object of my-invention to provide a simple and economical holder-ofthe class described which is adapted to use standard fittings now on the market, so that the cost of the complete assembly iskept'to a minimum.

These-and other'objects of my invention will become apparent, from the following description of a preferred and. modifiedflforms; thereof, and from the drawings illustrating those forms, in which:

Fig. L is a perspective utility view of mynew curtain rod holder as. it" appears; attached to a wall by means of an adjustable. bracket,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the form shown in-Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the various fittingsin exploded relationship,

Fig. 4- is a front elevationalviewof an optional formofholder,

Fig. 5' is a side elevational. view taken at. 5.5 in Fig. 4',

Fig; 6- isa bottom View taken at 6.6.in Fig. 5,.

Fig. '7' is a. front elevational view of another optional form of my invention, and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational: view taken at 8-8 in 7.

Referring now to the, drawings, and particularly' to- Figs. I-3 thereof, the numeral l0 indicates a portion of the Waller moldingfromwhich curtains ll. and 17. are to be suspended. The curtain M will normally be ofa lighter material, and is gener-allycalled a gauze or glass, curtain, While the curtain 1 2- isusuaIIy of a. heavier material forming a drape or. va1ance,.but.it.is, to. be understood throughout this specification and its claims that this nomenclature is illustrative; only and is not-to be: construed as limiting. these curtains to such materialsor such relative. positions. The curtainssH and. I2 arelsus-pended;.-from.rods Hand 14. respectively, whichare in turn. supported by my-adiustable curtain. rod holder designated generally by the numeral I5..

In my preferred: form, the rod holder 15 consists of a clevis member Hi. provided. with a threaded rod: l1 extending between the ends of thecarmsof thelclevis. The threaded. rod I17. is provided with threads extending substantially its entire length, and upper and. lower end portions 18 andl-.9, respectively, of-reduced diameter are the 'onlyxportions of the rod not. provided with threads. The .clevis; I56 formed: of a relatively springy'material with aligned holesnear. the outer endsuofi the arms, so-that thesmaller ends [.8 and H. of the. rod I! may be snapped into the. holes and.held1thereby..

.Byreducing the: diameter of the lower endof the rod Ill, ashoulder-lzz iszfor-med. which bears against. the lower armofwclevis, l6, audit is: this shoulder which supports; substantially the entire weight: of. the rod: H: and; allc-devicesrattached to it; Byprcvidingsaslotz 3.=on1the;endj.of thalower portion of reduced diameter, the threaded rod may readily be turned with a screw-driver by a person standing below it.

As previously mentioned, the clevis I5 is preferably formed of a relatively springy material, but since it must support a considerable weight, I have found it desirable to provide strengthening flanges 24 and 25, extending forwardly from the vertical edges of the clevis and perpendicular to the base or vertical portion thereof. As shown in Fig. 2, I prefer to widen the lower ends of the flanges 24 and 25 so that they approach the outer end of the lower arm of the clevis, but under certain conditions, this may not be necessary or even desirable.

Mounted on the threaded rod I1 is a carrier 30 having a central, vertical hole passing therethrough, tapped to engage the threads of the rod H. To prevent the carrier 30 from idly turning when the rod I1 is turned, I provide a slide member 3| which is firmly attached to the carrier 38 and extends to the base of the clevis it so as to be slidable between the flanges 24 and 25. Since the carrier 30 is thus prevented from turning, it will be moved up or down when the threaded rod IT is rotated, the slide 3| moving with the carrier at all times.

As will be seen, I have shown .the carrier 30 as having a generally cubic shape, but it will be apparent that other forms may be used as desired. However, I have found the cubic form to be very convenient, since this permits the threaded rod I! to pass through the upper and lower faces thereof, and the slide 3| may be attached to the rear face, leaving the front face and the two side faces available to receive nipples 32, 33, and 35. Each of these nipples is relatively short and is provided with external threads which permit standard curtain rod sockets 35 to be attached thereto. However, if it is desired to use a larger-sized rod, it is a simple matter to apply a threaded bushing 36 to which a larger rod socket 31 may be attached. By way of example only, the .most commonly used size .of curtain rod is nominally in diameter and hence I prefer to make the nipples 32, 3'3, and 34 approximately this size, but where a larger rod is needed, it is a simple matter toinstall a bushing andv socket adapted to receive a /2" rod, the next standardv size.

By providingnipples on both sides of the carrier 3b, the same curtain rod holder l5 may be used as a right-hand end, left-hand end, or center support for the rod, and hence installation is simplified and inventory problems are kept to a minimum The side nipples 32 and 34, however, provide means for supporting only one set of rods, such for example as those from which the gauze curtains H are hung, and where additional draperies are used, means must be provided for supporting additional rods. To this end, I provide the additional nipple 33 on the forward fac of the carrier 30, so that I may attach the extension member 40 thereto. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the extension member 40 is provided with a coupling member 4| adapted to engage the nipple 33 and be held thereby. To prevent the extension block 40 from turning about a horizontal axis when it is used as an end support, a small set-screw 42 may be provided in the coupling member i to bear againstthe nipple 3'3, and for convenience in installation, I prefer to place the set-screw so. that its head will be down when the rod holder is installed. While I have shown the extension member 40 as provided with two nipples 43 and 44, one on either side face of the member, it will be apparent that a third nipple may be provided on the forward face of the member so that a third set of curtain rods may be supported.

Where circumstances permit, the clevis It may be attached directly to the wall In, and to permit this to be done, I have provided holes and 5| in the base of the clevis through which screws or other suitable holding means may be placed. Since the heads of the screws often will project from the surface of the base, I have provided a recess 52 in the adjacent face of the slide member 3| so as to permit the latter to travel the entire distance between the two arms of the clevis without being stopped by the screw heads. It often happens, however, that for one reason or another the rods l3 and I4 must be spaced outwardly from the wall, and to provide for this contingency, I have developed the extension bracket 54 shown in Figs. 1-3. The extension bracket 54 comprises a channel-like member 55 having a central portion adapted to be bolted or otherwise securely held to the clevis l6, and with angle members 56 and 51 slidably attached to the upper and lower flanges of the channel member, respectively. Holding means, such as bolts 58, permit the angle members 56 and 51 to be adjusted with respect to the channel flanges so that the clevis I6 will be the proper distance from the wall. By making the angle members 55 and 51 independently adjustable, a cornice, molding, or similar architectural element may be compensated for by adjusting one angle member to a position different from that of the other one so that the threaded red I! may remain substantially vertical.

To use my improved curtain holder, the clevis I6 is attached to the wall In, either directly or by means of the adjustable bracket member 54, in a position so that the curtain will be at substantially the proper height when the carrier 30 is approximately midway between the upper and lower arms of the clevis. The proper number of holders for end and, if necessary, center supports are installed, the curtain rods I3 and H are attached, and the curtains II and I2 are hung on the rods. To adjust the curtains to exactly the proper height, it is then a simple matter to insert a screwdriver in the slot 23 of the threaded rod H and turn the rod, moving the carrier 30 up or down, until the proper position is reached. In some instances where various sections of the window are set at an angle to each other, as in bay windows, it may be necessary to make use of a swivel socket 60, and in this way, a single center type support may be used-where otherwise two end supports would be necessary.

Thus it will be seen that by using the swivel socket 60, the simple socket 35, and thebushing 3t and enlarged socket 31, I have provided. a. truly universal curtain rod holder. Howeverfit is to be understood that I do not claim.any invention in any of the sockets per se, since these are standard articles well-known to the trade and readily obtainable therefrom.

While the form just described constitutes my preferred form because of the accuracy and ease with which it may be adjusted, other forms may be used which are cheaper to construct, and in Figs. 4-8 I have shown two of these optional forms.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shown a form which may beadjusted-toanyposition, but which,;as

will become apparent, is "not soeasil'y adjusted as is m preferred form. Ass'een in thedrawings, this form includes a channel-like member I9 provided with ears II and '12 which are located at the ends ofthe flanges of the channel and parallel to the web thereof, and which are provided with screw holes 13 and "for attaching the channel to the wall. To strengthen the channel member 10, and to providemeans for attaching it to the bracket 54 if desired, I prefer to provide a stifieningmemb'er Idext'endirig between the flanges of the channel Land having holes I8 therein, adapted "to alignwith similar holes in the extensionbracket. If'the channel member 19 were attached directly tothewall, the stiffening member I5 would seldom be needed; but since not all channel members are thus directly attached, I prefer to simplify inventories byfurnishing the stiffening member on all holders.

Extending through the web of the channel member 19, I provide a slot I6 extending from a point near the upper flange to a point near the lower flange of the channel member and of a size sufficient to receive the shank of a bolt 17. The bolt I1 holds a slidable plate 8|! against the web of the channel ID and parallel to it, the plate preferably being slightly narrower than the horizontal width of the web of the channel and having a vertical dimension substantially the same as that of the web.

At the lower end of the channel web member it, I prefer to provide a projection 8i parallel to the lower flange of the channel member and having a slot 82 therein, adapted to receive the plate as, so that the latter may slide therethrough. In this way, the plate 86) may be set at any desired height and held there by tightening the bolt I7, and the slot 82 will hold the late so that the latter may not turn about the bolt 11 as a center.

On the forward surface and near the top of the plate 89, I provide a carrier block 83 similar in all respects to the carrier block 39 of my preferred form, save that instead of being provided with a sliding member 3|, as in my preferred form, the carrier 83 is rigidly attached to the plate 98, and hence no tapped hole for the threaded rod I1 is necessary.

To use my optional form of curtain rod holder, the channel member III is attached to the wall or bracket member as in my preferred form, the curtain rods and curtains are attached thereto, and the proper adjustment as to height is made by loosening the bolt 11 and sliding the member 99 up and down until the proper position is had and the bolt TI is then tightened. It will be seen that while there may be certain constructional advantages in this optional form, it is more difficult to adjust to the proper position and to retain it there, since the screwdriver used to adjust this optional form must be in a substantially horizontal position, and this requires the operator to stand higher. In addition, if any downward force is placed on the plate 89 before the bolt 77 is securely tightened, the adjustment may be changed and the entire measuring process may have to be repeated. However, these disadvantages are very minor compared to the diificulties of the present system of installation.

The danger of having the carrier 83 slip after the proper setting has been found has been overcome in another form of my invention, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, which is similar in many respects to the form just described. This optional form,

which m-iglit be calle'd'the duick-adjustment form tofdistinguish it from the form -'justdescribe'd, has a channel member" 99 provided with ears 9| and *9'2 at the end of the flanges which are provided with screw 'holes '93 and 94. A stiflening member 95, extending from the lower flange to the upper flange and having holes '98 therein, similar to the 'member 15' of my other optional form,'is provided to permit the attachment of the 'channel member Blito a bracket 54. Along the'webof the channel member 99, I provide "a slot 96 which receives a rivet 97, and held to the web by-the rivet is a slidable plate I00 whose lower end passes through a slot I92 in a projection IGI extending forwardly from the lower edge of theweb. Attached to the plate I00 is a carrier I03 similarto the carrier 83 and performing the same functions as the latter and the carrier 30.

To support the plate IE9 at any desired position, I provide serrations forming ratchet-like portions I94 and I05 along each side of the web of the channel-shaped member 93. These teethlike members are shaped so that their upper surfaces are substantially horizontal while their lower surfaces are angularly positioned with re-- spect thereto. Attached to the plate I00 and adapted to cooperate with the ratchet portions I94 and I65 are two fingers I96 and. I01, preferably pivotally mounted on the plate and provided with a spring urging their ratchet-engaging ends together. For convenience, I prefer to provide handles I68 and I09 for the fingers so that they may be readily separated when it is desired to lower the carrier I93, but these handles are not necessary though they are very convenient.

To adjust my quick-adjustment form of ourtain rod support, the channel member is attached to the wall or bracket 54, and the curtain rods are mounted as previously described, with the carrier I03 preferably in its lowest position. The carriers and rod are then moved upwardly until the proper hanging of the curtain is achieved, and as the carrier is moved, the fingers I06 and I01 successively engage the teeth of the ratchet portions I94 and I95. Hence, when the proper setting of the carrier I03 is had. there is nothing more to be done, since the fingers I06 and I 07 have engaged the proper teeth. This form does have the disadvantage that there is a possibility that the proper position will he between two adjacent teeth, but by making the teeth relatively small, the disparity between the proper and actual curtain height may be made unnoticeable.

While I have described all of my forms of curtain rod holder as being attached directly to a wall, it will be apparent that where a cornice or board valance is used, it is a simple matter to attach the clevis or channel member directly to the front vertical portion or drop apron, and in this event the use of the extension bracket is not required. This form of curtain rod holder is very suitable for use with the customary pulley attachment for traversing curtains held to the rod by means of brazed rings, and hence it will be seen that I have provided a truly universal adjustable curtain rod support.

While I have shown preferred and modified forms of my invention, it will be apparent that changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, as delineated by my appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. A curtain rod holder which includes: a

clevis member provided with a threaded rod extending between the ends of the arms of the clevis, and a tapped carrier mounted on said threaded rod and provided with a slide member extending rearwardly from said carrier to the base of said clevis and slidable therein, said carrier being adapted to support a curtain rod.

2. A curtain rod holder which includes: a clevis member comprising a vertical base portion and upper and lower horizontal extending arms; a pair of longitudinal flanges on said base portion extending perpendicular thereto; a threaded rod rotatably mounted between the horizontal arms of said clevis and adjacent their outer ends; a threaded carrier mounted on said rod and engaging the threads thereof and adapted to support the end of a curtain rod; and a slide member extending rearwardly from said carrier to the base of said clevis and having its rear end slidably disposed between said flanges whereby rotation of said rod will cause said carrier to move vertically without rotating about said rod.

3. A curtain rod holder which includes: a clevis; a threaded rod rotatably mounted between the outer ends of the arms of said clevis; means on the base portion of said clevis forming a guide; a carrier mounted on said rod and having threads engaging the same; and a member extending rearwardly from said carrier and having a portion adapted to slide in said guide on the base of said clevis.

JOHN B. HOLTZCLAW. 

